The Infamous Craigslist

1976 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

(Cockpit-inspired gauge cluster is unlike any other Ferrari)

 (Engine bay when purchased and then after fixing and detailing. This V8 powerplant of just under three liters debuted in the GT4, but is more identified with the 308 GTB and GTS)

The 308 GT4 is somewhat of an automotive contradiction.  First of all, it started out as a Dino 308 GT4 (from Ferrari), not a Ferrari 308 GT4.  Unlike all other Ferrari products made from the 1960 through the present day, it wears a Bertone badge rather than one from Pininfarina.  And it has those two small rear seats!

Call it a Dino, a Ferrari Dino, a Dino 308 GT4...it's real name by 1976 was "Ferrari Dino 308 GT4".  The 308 indicates the three-liter V8 (same as the 308 GTB and GTS), with the GT4 denoting a four-seater GT car.  Dino was going to be Ferrari's "junior-level" brand (which debuted with the sexy 206GT and continued on with the 246GT and 246GTS), but when sales of the 308 GT4 lagged, the Dino brand was converted to a model designation.

Just don't call it slow. Powering the 308 GT4 is Ferrari's first production V8 engine -- a two valve-per-cylinder three-liter 90-degree unit utilizing four Weber carburetors to produce 240hp.  This same engine would soon find its way into the better-known 308 GTB and 308 GTS models.  The 308 GT4 runs far ahead of two-valve injected 308 GTBi/GTSi examples and neck and neck with the  308 GTB/GTS quattrovalve models that followed.  Period tests showed 0-60 times in the high sixes and low sevens.  Its taut body also helps create an apex-carving machine.  Any Ferrari nut in the know will freely admit the GT4 has amazing handling and is one of the marque's most fun cars to drive hard.

This particular car was sold "new" in 1977 with over 2000 miles on it from Ferrari of Los Gatos, California.  The car was sold to another owner in the 1980s, but was put up for sale at another Ferrari Dealer in Walnut Creek, CA after the engine suffered a timing belt break in 1987, requiring a full rebuild. 

In 1989 the car went to a new owner in Woodland Hills, CA, who drove it sparingly.  In April 2000, the owner had service work done with 62,060 miles on it.  Nearly nine years later, the odometer reads just 62,198!!!

When the car was put on Craigslist in 2009, prospective buyers found a car with an engine more out of tune than a American Idol reject.  All prospective buyers ran...except for one.  The current owner did a quick inspection of the owners billfold, though, which revealed receipts for another full engine rebuild (complete with main and cam bearings, new rings, seals, headgaskets, water pump, belts, bearings...) in 2007.  The seller admitted the money had run out, and the engine rebuild mechanic had not done anything to tune the car after the engine had been put back in.

After buying the car for a low sum and towing the car home, the new owner went to work on getting it to run.  One of the two ignition coils had failed, the faulty and unnecessary smog-spec retarded points circuit was disconnected, the wobbly distributor bearings were replaced, the four Weber carbs were rebuilt with new rings and gaskets, new spark plugs and wires were installed, new timing belts fitted (for peace of mind), and a large crack in the rear exhaust header was welded.

Now it runs!!!

The car is in its original Avorio Safari (Ivory Safari) paint.  According to Ferrari's official production archive data, only 34 Avorio Safari cars were built at the factory throughout the entire 308 GT4 production.  Of those cars, only 15 were built for the American market.  While I don't have the information regarding how many were solid Avorio versus ones in the so-called "Boxer" paint scheme with the lower body painted a contrasting matte-black, of the only three other survivors I have found doing online searches all have been Avorio Safari - Boxer.

The interior combines good original door panels with new carpets and seat leather.  Interestingly enough, the clock still works perfectly. 

(Comfortable interior with one of the great dashboard designs)

(Nothing says 1970s like a wedge with a big black bumper!)

(Those lines look familiar?  The 599 GTB Fiorano has a similar treatment!) 

(When was the last time you saw 70-series tires on a sports car?)

Update 8/2011: Pulled the engine to establish why it was blowing oil smoke from the day I got it (but running strong). Thanks to the Rohaly guys for helping with the pull!

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Turned out to be nothing more than the DPM (dumb previous mechanic) putting the rear head gasket on upside-down, which partially blocked the oil return passages. Replaced head gaskets and valve stem seals.  Pic below -- ready to go back in.